š„š Your Health, Their Politics: The Real Cost
Good morning, Other Siders!
Happy Frosty February! āļø While weāre all thawing out from the polar vortex, letās warm up with some piping-hot healthcare updates. Shoutout to our new subscribersāyouāve joined just in time for the most chaotic week in Canadian healthcare (Albertaās playing musical chairs with their health boardā¦ again). This editionās packed with fresh drama and a U.S. health nominee withā¦ questionable backup singers.
P.S. If your org needs a digital health strategy glow-up, our consulting squadās got your backāproven to turn chaos into impact.
In todayās edition, weāre serving up:
š©āļø Training Shift for More Family Docs?
šļø Veteransā Pain Relief at Invictus 2025
š Alberta Health Board Shake-Upā¦ Again
š³ļøš U.S. Erases Gender Health Info?
Dive in and enjoy the ride. š
News that Impacts You!
š©āļø Training Shift for More Family Docs?
With 6.5 million Canadians lacking a family doctor, three new medical schoolsāSimon Fraser University, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), and the University of Prince Edward Islandāare flipping the script on training. These programs emphasize team-based care, integrating pharmacists, nurses, and social workers to tackle complex cases like mental health or housing insecurity. TMUās six-month "co-op for doctors" placements aim to immerse students in real-world primary care, while SFU focuses on reducing ER visits through proactive community care. Dr. David Price, SFUās dean, notes that todayās patients often juggle multiple chronic conditions, requiring longer visits than the old 10-minute model. The goal? Train docs who thrive in collaborative settingsābecause solo burnout isnāt helping anyone
Would you trust a healthcare team over a lone wolf?
šļø Veteransā Pain Relief at Invictus 2025
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence (CPCoE) is hitting the ground running at the Invictus Games, armed with Bayshore HealthCareās funding. Their activation booth will offer veterans wearable pain trackers and live recordings of The Most Painful Podcast, featuring athletes whoāve swapped opioids for yoga and neurostimulation tech. Did you know female veterans are twice as likely to suffer chronic pain than civilians? CPCoEās research aims to close this gap by blending tech and community support. Imagine a vet using VR therapy to manage phantom limb pain mid-competitionānow thatās resilience
Ever tried non-traditional pain relief?
š Alberta Health Board Shake-Upā¦ Again
Premier Danielle Smithās government dissolved Alberta Health Servicesā board (again), handing control to deputy minister Andre Tremblay. Critics like former AHS exec Braden Manns call this āpolitical meddling,ā arguing the real issue is frontline staff shortages, not bureaucracy. AHS, now split into four agencies, still manages 106 hospitalsābut ER wait times remain sky-high. Tremblay, a career bureaucrat with no health admin experience, now juggles three roles: AHS CEO, Health Ministry deputy, and hospital overseer. Meanwhile, ER nurses are clocking 16-hour shifts. Priorities, anyone?
Would you trust a deputy minister to run your hospital?
šLet us know what you think in the comment section.
Evolving Global Health
š³ļøš U.S. Erases Gender Health Info?
While the U.S. rolls back gender-affirming resources, Canadaās Movember grants include support for LGBTQIA+ prostate cancer patients, who often lack tailored care. The Walnut Foundationās project in Toronto and Montreal uses culturally sensitive materials to engage Black LGBTQIA+ communities. Health equity isnāt just a buzzwordāitās lifesaving. Imagine a trans man denied screenings because clinics donāt recognize his needs. Canadaās strides highlight why inclusive info matters
Should politics dictate health info?
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